Officine Panerai

KC74
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Newbie...

Hmmm what can i say.. My first encounter with Panerai was about 6 years ago, when i strapped on a PAM 111, on the wrist.  Huge fella, imposing, nice light orange brown strap, but that did not belong to me.  It was a friend's.  Second encounter was a colleague who wore his PAM 63.  My former boss actually.  And then around me, everyone was sporting a Luminor on their wrist and thought whats the big deal.  Big chunky piece of steel.  Few years moved on, and no second look on Panerai.  A Speedie, a Sub, an Explorer, an IWC added to my small collection but no Panerai.

Joined this passionate forum last September 2010, when i happily took a pic of my then Sub and posted here.  It has been coming to 14 months now, lurking, admiring wristshots, shared opinions, sometimes wrong opinions, casual remarks, and lurking in Panerai forum, admiring the following people's very passionate emotions about PAM, people like BluNotte, Samrotandi, Anthony Tsai, Amanico's, Imran, John Lim, the passionate Bruno, even Tyler's Bomb, and many others who are just so passionate about their PAMs.  I also read about dear Dr. Bernard Cheong who sold his collection of PAMs once and he regretted. I realised there must be something about PAM that i have missed out so far.

I like the California dial or 249, and i was actually offered one sometime last year, used, but could not justify myself getting it.  The Black Seals, excellent rendition, PAM 127, excellent! 1950 very nice! PAM 372, another fantastic re-isseue, 2 lines side by side right below 12 o'clock, what not to love... Another PAM 338, Radiomir based, same feelings.. lovin' feelin'.. PAM 111, the much earlier model which always appeared in Panerai printed ads, PAM 412 the PAM 111 look alike with the slow moving torpedoes above 6 o'clock with two navy divers on top called PIGs due to their manouverability of these torpedoes which successfully bombed a few ships and submarines then, not bad, and who can take their eyes off the legendary 341 Egiziano, cannot imagine a 60mm which can be worn on my ankle like Horo did, very imposing watch..

Panerai was kind enough to produce limited editions for China the PAM 366 with my name on it, i am so touched, LOL, thanks Panerai.  The list of nice pammies are such as the PAM 360 PVD logo, 217 Militaires, PAM 232 one fantastic looking watch, the Arktos when i read about Mike Horn's ice cold chilled experience and burning tent with his timekeeper, the Submersibles, BIG, the Mare Nostrum much talked about, the Base series, the A series and the pre Vendome which everyone goes gaga over.

Panerai is a brand i find which causes man to wear watches larger than their wrist measurements, a watch which cause man to change straps more often than man changing anything in their lives, cause one to wear left handed watch when they are actually right handed.  Panerai has a very serious fan base almost cult like, the Pane religion, it can evoke strong emotions, its boutique editions are much talked about over engravings on the caseback, the finishing of its movements, missing the blued screws, geneva stripes, all these are being worshiped.  Its fan base is very vocal and OP does listen.  Each model / series produced as low as 500 according to statistics in a year.

There must be goodies hiding behind that little rustic looking original ship located at Florence, Italy with the word Orologeria in Italian above its doorsteps meaning a mechanism with geared wheels driven by coiled springs, what else could it be.  Many great war stories, myth, mystery surrounded the Panerai brand, Egyptians, the British, the Italians.  How can a watch meant for diving at 300m depth and for the Navy worn without minute markers to pin point accurate time measurement? Beats me..

I can now more or less understand the desire and fascination for Panerais. Must be the design of their case, cushion, nicely curved and elegant at times, strong, Rolex inspired, the slow ticking of the movement, the dial, the simplicity of it all, the very balanced appearance of a sandwich dial. 

Due to all this, i started looking for my own.  It has to be something close to the originals.  It was between the Luminor and the Radiomir.  I wanted the Rolex inspired case design.  Need not be 300m depth.  It must be simple.  the Radiomir a 1938 model.  Nice.  I just so love the Sandwich dial.  Love love sandwich. So simple it is almost Zen like.  At certain angle the dial appears to be stealth.  Slow moving movement in which its design looks like the Rolex holy grail of Radiomir.  The lume is amazing.

So there i was in Taipei, visited Taipei 101, and went to Panerai boutique which they ran out of stock.  How disappointing.  May take months for order and i would be leaving Taiwan in 2 days time.  I gotta hurry.  Called Kuala Lumpur,  same thing, out of stock, have to wait for new delivery and no guarantee as there is a queue for it.  What? Nevermind. Spotted this very established retailer which happened to be Panerai AD.  My second last picture on the Taiwan thread.  This shop has big Rolex and Tudor signages outside, and inside they have all the established brands, and ahhh...they have Panerai but all chronograph series.  Hmmm.. so their friendly sales rep called their other branch, apparently there are 3 branch outlets in Taipei, YES, they have one in the box, wrapped, unrevealed. Done.  That would be mine.  Came back 2 hours later... Bravo, my brand new Panerai. I was smiling with happiness like a child. 

Too long winded LOL... My first PAM 210.  what now, to buy some Panerai books and learn... Now i understand why..  after so long..

Cheers